HPV, Cervical Cancer & HPV Vaccine
Vaccine for Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevents Cancer.
Oct 13, 2008
HPV are very infectious. Transmission of the high risk HPV is by sexual person-to-person contact. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that 20 million Americans are infected by one or more HPV. Most genital HPV infections have no symptoms so some infected people do not know they are infected and are completely unaware that they are passing the virus. This makes it easy for HPV to infect a new person.
Persistent HPV infections may last for years. Consequently, having more than one sexual partner, even if the contact occurred years in the past, dramatically increases the potential to infect another person. Epidemiologists call this “sexual networking” – groups of people who are directly or indirectly sexually connected. If one person in the network has HPV at any time, there is a greatly increased chance to infect every person in the network in the future.
Interesting epidemiologic studies show that women in their 60s have a higher rate of new HPV infection compared to younger women in their 30s. Epidemiologists believe this occurs because these women may have been widowed or divorced and then have become sexually active with a new partner. A new sexual network is created, which greatly increases the probability of HPV infection - even if the woman’s new partner had been monogamous for years.
HPV Is Not Curable
HPV is not curable. However, most people have healthy immune systems, which can fight and destroy the virus. Unfortunately, in people with unhealthy immune systems and, surprisingly, in some people with healthy immune systems, the body does not fight off HPV infection. When this happens, a troublesome condition called persistent HPV infection occurs.
HPV Infections Are Dangerous
High-risk HPV cause incurable and, in some cases, life-threatening illnesses. Sexually transmitted persistent HPV infections are dangerous. Most importantly, women should be aware that persistent high-risk HPV infection causes nearly 100% of cervical cancer cases. HPV-caused cervical cancer is insidious – Cervical cancer, like HPV infection, has no symptoms until the cancer has progressed to an incurable stage.
HPV Infections and Cervical Cancer Are Preventable
Vaccination against HPV is very important for all women, not only for women who are sexually active with more than one partner. Vaccination must occur at an early age before becoming sexually active. The vaccine works against any particular high risk HPV type only if given before infection occurs. Some authorities think men should be vaccinated, too. Cervical cancer is preventable if caught early. Women should have regular gynecological examinations including Pap smears and HPV tests.
Persistent high-risk HPV infections can occur in other genital areas or in the mouth. As with cervical cancer, these infections can lead to the development of cancer in these body areas. Similarly, early vaccination prevents all HPV genital infections and associated cancers.
Protect Yourself and Your Daughter
HPV is a major health risk, especially for women. Fortunately, women who have knowledge about HPV - how it is transmitted and how it causes cervical cancer – are able to take effective steps to protect themselves and their daughters from HPV and cervical cancer and to educate other women to protect themselves.
